Article 53 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 53 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثالث: الانتقال والمعاينة والتفتيش وضبط الأشياء المتعلقة بالجريمة
The article provides that doubt about the investigator's jurisdiction, or a dispute over it, does not stop him from going at once to inspect the scene of a major crime, and requires him to inform the head of his department if he cannot go.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا كانت الجريمة من الجرائم الكبيرة فلا يحول وجود شك في اختصاص المحقق أو قيام نزاع حوله دون انتقاله إلى مكان وقوع الجريمة - فور إبلاغه بها - لإجراء المعاينة.
2 - إذا تعذر على المحقق الانتقال - وفق المادة (التاسعة والسبعون) من النظام - إلى مكان وقوع الجريمة، فعليه إبلاغ رئيس الدائرة التابع لها؛ لاتخاذ اللازم في هذا الشأن.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 53 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law deals with the investigator going to the scene of the crime to inspect it.
1- In major crimes: Major crimes in the Regulations are crimes that call for detention under Article 112 of the Law, according to the definitions in Article 1 of the Regulations. In these crimes:
- The existence of doubt about the investigator's jurisdiction, or a dispute over it, does not prevent him from going to the scene of the crime.
- He goes as soon as he is informed of the crime, to carry out the inspection.
The reason is clear: traces of the crime can disappear quickly, so the crime scene should not be left uninspected because of a disagreement over jurisdiction.
2- If he cannot go: If the investigator cannot go to the scene of the crime under Article 79 of the Law, he must inform the head of the department he belongs to, to take what is necessary. The article does not specify what the head of the department takes.
Relationship to neighboring articles: It is followed by Article 54 of the Regulations, which makes inspection something the investigator carries out himself, with the option of delegating a criminal investigation officer, and tasks forensic experts with searching for traces. This article opens the Regulations' provisions on going to the scene and inspection, after the provisions on delegating experts ending at Article 52.
If you are a party to a case and want to know how this provision affects your situation, you can consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
An investigator was informed of a murder in a neighborhood on the border of two jurisdictions, and a dispute arose over which body had jurisdiction. Because the crime is a major one, this dispute does not prevent him from going at once to the site to carry out the inspection.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 53 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Does a disagreement over jurisdiction stop the investigator from inspecting the crime scene?
In major crimes, doubt about the investigator's jurisdiction, or a dispute over it, does not prevent him from going as soon as he is informed to carry out the inspection.
What are major crimes?
They are crimes that call for detention under Article 112 of the Law, according to the Regulations' definitions.
What does the investigator do if he cannot go?
He must inform the head of the department he belongs to, to take what is necessary.
More articles on Investigation and Inspection Procedures
- Article 8
The article explains the in-law relationship and the enmity that bar a member of the Authority from handling a case, and lets any opponent request disqualification of the investigator before or during the investigation.
1- لا يشترط لقيام صلة المصاهرة المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الحادية والعشرين) من النظام؛ أن تكون رابطة الزوجية قائمة. 2 - العداوة التي تمنع عضو الهيئة
- Article 16
The article sets the contents of the officer's record on going to the scene of the crime, requires him to show his identity, and regulates acting outside his jurisdiction, informing the Authority and continuing inquiries.
1 - يقوم رجـل الضبط الجنائي - عند الانتقال إلى مكان وقوع الجريمة بحسب المادة (السابعة والعشرين) من النظام - بتحرير محضر يشتمل على ما يأتي: أ) تاريخ اتخاذ الإجرا
- Article 44
The article sets the conditions for the validity of the delegation in Article 66 of the Law, and explains when the delegated officer must be named and when identifying his job function is enough.
1- يشترط لصحة الندب - الوارد في المادة (السادسة والستين) من النظام - أن يصدر صريحاً ممن يملكه، وأن يكون مثبتاً بالكتابة، ويبين فيه اسم من أصدره، ووظيفته وتوقيعه
- Article 45
The article makes the delegate responsible for assessing the fear of running out of time referred to in Article 67 of the Law, subject to the Bureau's oversight.
يكون تقدير خشية فوات الوقت المشار إليه في المادة (السابعة والستين) من النظام للمندوب، ويخضع هذا التقدير لرقابة الهيئة.
- Article 46
The article directs inquiries from government bodies to the Bureau or the body handling the case, without anything that may affect the investigation, and provides that the Bureau informing them is not a disclosure of secrets.
1- توجه استفسارات الجهات الحكومية ذات العلاقة إلى الهيئة، أو إلى الجهة التي لديها القضية، على ألا يشتمل الاستفسار أو الإجابة على ما قد يؤثر في سير التحقيق أو إج
- Article 47
The article regulates adding the private claimant's claim to the case file, attendance at investigation procedures and barring it when necessary, multiple lawyers, and the duty not to disclose investigation secrets.
1- إذا قبل المحقق ادعاء المدعي بالحق الخاص استناداً إلى الفقرة (1) من المادة (التاسعة والستين) من النظام؛ فيلحقه بملف الدعوى، ويشير إليه في لائحة الدعوى. 2 - يك
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.